Putting your relationship back onto the front burner after Bariatric Surgery
Weight Loss Surgery, or Bariatric Surgery, requires adherence to a lifelong lifestyle change. Focusing on eating right, exercising and attending plenty of support groups can make your partner feel like they are no longer part of your life. How do you ensure that your partner supports you and also enjoy quality together time, strengthening your relationship?
Share your active lifestyle together. Make an effort to exercise together. Try activities that you both may enjoy, such as dancing to a local rock band, hiking, walking at the beach, yoga, Tai Chi, skiing, karate class or swimming.
Sweat the small stuff. If little comments about your weight hit a nerve or nagging is considered a hobby in your household, make an effort to stop it as it happens. Little hurts build up to resentment and all of a sudden, you may be wondering why the other person is so hurtful and unloving.
Touch more. Intimacy is about the little, gentle touches. It is about sitting a bit too close to each other, kissing for no apparent reason and hugging, just because you can. Don’t wait for your partner to start, be brave and see what happens when you make the first move.
Talk about your dreams. What is it that you are both trying to reach? Do you have a mutual dream? Can you find ways to share your goals and make a common dream for both of you to share?
Enjoy healthy food together. It is difficult to feel connected when you eat alone and have different menus. Make it a point to share at least one meal together every day. Stock the pantry with foods you can both enjoy and get rid of the junk food.
Laugh. Don’t forget about life’s feel good moments. When was the last time you and your mate were laughing until your stomachs hurt and tears were rolling down your faces? Sometimes, we focus so much on who is wrong and who’s right, how to win a fight, and how to get our way that we take ourselves too seriously and don’t enjoy the moment.
This month’s On Track Workshop will be all about love and relationships after bariatric surgery. Bring your mate and have some fun with some square dancing lessons, learn to prepare healthy food together and come together for a relationship focused support session. This workshop will be held Saturday, February 18th from 9 AM to noon. This workshop is free to all weight loss surgery patients, but please register for this event. Griffin Hospital offers a monthly On Track Workshop every third Saturday of the month for Bariatric Surgery patients.
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